3 Days in Delhi Itinerary: The Classic First-Timer Plan
The definitive 3-day Delhi itinerary: Old Delhi, New Delhi, and South Delhi done right — with metro directions, ticket costs, and food picks for each day.
Three days is the classic Delhi itinerary for a reason. It gives each of Delhi's three cities a full half-day: Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi), Lutyens' New Delhi, and Mehrauli/South Delhi — with buffer for food, gardens, and a museum you actually want.
Shorter? See the 1-day sprint or 2-day weekend. Longer? Our 4–5 day slow itinerary adds Mehrauli ruins, cooking classes, and day trips.
Map Before You Move#
Day 1 Old + Central Delhi (intensity → ease)
Day 2 South Delhi (minars, tombs, parks)
Day 3 Temples, museums, markets — your choice day
One anchor per half-day. Delhi rewards that restraint more than any other north Indian city because distances are long and heat or smog can turn a packed list into a queue trap.
With family or elders? Keep the same anchors but halve the walking: autos between every pair, AC mall or museum for the 12–3 PM block, and a hotel with a lift near a metro station. See Delhi with elderly parents for the low-walking version of this plan.
Day 1: Old Delhi and Lutyens' Delhi#
07:00–11:30 The Walled City#
Metro Chandni Chowk → Jama Masjid at 7 AM (cool, empty, scarf for shoulders/knees), then lanes:
- Chandni Chowk main spine + one side lane: Khari Baoli (spices), Paranthe Wali Gali (one parantha), or Kucha Pati Ram (havelis)
- Breakfast: Lotan Chole Kulche or Daulat ki Chaat in winter — see the food walk for the lane-by-lane list
Red Fort (₹35/₹500, closed Mondays) 60–75 min. On Mondays substitute Agrasen ki Baoli now and shift Red Fort to Day 2 before Qutub Minar (adds 40 min).
12:00–14:00 Central Delhi#
Auto/metro to India Gate & Kartavya Path (30 min, free) + Agrasen ki Baoli (20 min, free) if not done earlier.
Lunch in Connaught Place: Rajdhani Thali (₹350) or Wenger's. Check our CP stay guide if you are based here — you already are where you need to be.
14:30–17:00 Humayun's Tomb#
Metro JLN Stadium + auto. 75–90 minutes. The gardens are the point as much as the dome. Ticket ₹40/₹600. This is your one non-negotiable Mughal monument on a 3-day trip.
17:30 Sunset#
Lodhi Garden (free) for joggers and tombs at golden hour, or Lotus Temple (free, closed Mondays, phones off inside). In monsoon the light at Lodhi is emerald — see monsoon guide.
Evening: Nizamuddin Karim's for Mughlai.
Day 2: South Delhi — Qutub, Mehrauli, Hauz Khas#
08:00–10:30 Qutub Minar (don't rush it)#
Metro Qutub Minar + auto. Qutub complex needs 75 minutes (₹35/₹550) — Qutub itself, iron pillar, Alai Darwaza, and the cloistered mosque ruins. This is where visitors who tried to cram it into Day 1 regret the taxi time.
10:45–12:00 Mehrauli Archaeological Park#
Free, 1.5 km from Qutub. Sample Rajaon ki Baoli stepwell + one tomb; the park is 200 acres — you are not surveying it. This pairing appears in every workable 3-day Delhi itinerary because the two sites share a metro station.
12:30–14:30 Hauz Khas Village + Deer Park#
15-min auto. Hauz Khas Fort (₹25) + reservoir + lunch overlooking the lake. The village cafés beat malls for a midday pause.
15:00–18:00 Flexible Slot — Choose One#
| Interest | Place | Time | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Sunder Nursery (restored Mughal gardens, café) | 90 min | Open daily |
| History | National Museum, Janpath | 2 hrs | Mondays |
| Textiles | Crafts Museum + Dilli Haat (shops fixed-price) | 90 min | Open daily |
Evening: Hauz Khas rooftop or CP shopping — Dilli Haat vs Janpath explains fixed vs bargaining.
Day 3: The Choice Day (This Is What Makes 3 Days Work)#
Day 3 is not "leftover monuments." It is Delhi lived, not just seen. Pick one track based on who you are:
Track A — Temple & Devotion (most first-timers)#
- Morning: Lotus Temple (if not done) + Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (free, volunteer kitchen, 60 min including langar) — see temple etiquette
- Afternoon: Akshardham (free entry, phones/cameras banned, needs 3 hours incl. boat ride, closed Mondays). Or NIH? If Akshardham feels heavy, swap to National Crafts Museum + Dilli Haat for a lighter devotion.
- Evening: Nizamuddin Dargah Thursday qawwali if your days align.
Track B — Museums & Quiet Green#
- Morning: National Museum (if not done) + Agrasen ki Baoli revisit for photos in better light
- Afternoon: Sunder Nursery if you skipped it Day 2, or Mehrauli Park deeper (Balban's Tomb)
- Evening: Cooking class (book via major platforms — travelers rate it highest of all Delhi experiences per food tour reviews)
Track C — Old Delhi Food Deep-Dive#
- Morning: Chandni Chowk food walk, properly — paratha, kachori, jalebi, lassi lane by lane
- Afternoon: Khari Baoli buying session (spices, dried fruit) + Chawri Bazaar paper market
- Evening: Purani Dilli kebabs near Jama Masjid
“We have 3 days in Delhi, staying near New Delhi Railway Station, travel with elderly parents who walk slowly. Adjust this 3-day itinerary for less walking and more metro.”
Practical Costs and Tickets (2026)#
- ASI tickets (Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar): Indian ₹35–40, foreign ₹500–600, buy online to skip queues
- Metro: tourist card (3 days ~₹500 unlimited) pays back at 4 rides/day — see metro first-timer guide and lines guide
- Autos: agree ₹150–200 for short hops; otherwise Uber/Ola per our airport pickup rules (same verification applies in city)
- Food: street ₹100–180/meal, CP café ₹350–500, Mughlai dinner ₹600–900 for two
FAQ#
Is 3 days enough or should I do 4–5? 3 days covers the canon: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, India Gate, one garden, one temple/museum. 4–5 days adds Mehrauli ruins properly, a cooking class, and maybe Agra — see the slow itinerary. If Agra is must-see, make Delhi 2 days + Agra day trip, not 3 cramped Delhi days.
Can I do the Golden Triangle (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur) in 3 days? No. Delhi alone needs these 3. Golden Triangle minimum is 6–7 days with an overnight in Agra and 2 nights in Jaipur.
What if pollution is severe in winter? Push outdoor mornings later (10 AM start), wear N95s pre-bought, and keep one indoor swap per day (museum for garden). Our pollution precautions lists AQI thresholds by activity.
Where should I base myself for this plan? CP/Karol Bagh for Day 1–3 balance, or Hauz Khas if you prefer South Delhi quiet — see best area to stay.
Do I need a guide every day? No. Hire at Humayun's Tomb (₹300–400, gate-licensed) and optionally Qutub Minar. Old Delhi is better with a food walk host than a monument guide.